Teachers must continue to learn throughout their careers to maintain their professional competence. The purpose of this study was to explore the differences in professional development needs of Florida agricultural education teachers based on selected variables. Results of the study indicated that teachers had the greatest professional development…

The purpose of this study was to describe elementary teachers' attitudes and perceptions toward agriculture and its use as a context for teaching across the grade level content area standards. Further, this study sought to probe more deeply the stages of concern possessed by kindergarten through eighth grade teachers with respect to their use of…

College freshmen in agriculture (n=401) agreed that high school agriculture is good preparation for college; 97% who had high school agriculture courses planned on degrees in agriculture. Those who had high school agriculture experience had more positive attitudes of agricultural education and agricultural careers. High school agriculture teachers…

Responses from 324 of 495 freshmen in the University of Illinois College of Agriculture were generally positive toward agriculture, but only 60% intended an agriculture major. Of those with high school agriculture, 95% intended to major, as did 98% of Future Farmers of America members and 86% of 4-H members. Those with high school agriculture…

The primary purpose of this study was to identify those factors that most accurately predict a student's intention to complete a degree in a college of agriculture. Specific research objectives were to identify similarities and differences of college of agriculture freshmen from predominately urban backgrounds, as compared to those in an…

Responses from high school science teachers in Illinois (211 of 336) indicated that half collaborated with agriculture teachers; most felt agricultural education benefitted high achievers and thought that agriculture should become more science based. Attitudes toward agriculture were more positive if teachers were familiar with agricultural…

A survey of 16 guidance counselors in schools serving as agricultural education student teaching sites showed they had positive attitudes about agriculture and agricultural sciences but believed agricultural education was too vocational. Those in schools with applied sciences in agriculture gave high ratings to the quality of agriculture programs.…

Illinois secondary agriscience students (n=275) and 166 parents were surveyed; 90% of both rated science applications in agriculture courses excellent or good. Although students expressed positive attitudes toward agriculture careers, parents were reluctant to recommend them. (SK)

Iowa secondary principals (n=147) had favorable perceptions of agriculture programs, courses, and teachers. They believed agriculture reinforced other subject learning and thought the programs were important to the community. They felt any student could benefit from agricultural education. (SK)

The most frequent student recruitment strategies reported by 275 secondary agriculture teachers were (in order of effectiveness) feeder schools, personal contacts, FFA, publications, strong curriculum, support groups, and special events. Specific activities for each strategy were identified. (Contains 34 references.) (SK)

A study of two classes of agriculture freshmen (1997: n=245, 1998: 195) showed that the best predictor of performance for the 1997 cohort was high school grade point average (GPA) and ACT score; for the 1998 cohort, GPA alone. High school GPA was the only successful predictor of freshman GPA. Traditional admission criteria had limited predictive…

Universities across the nation have established criteria in the selection of students for admission. This correlational study was conducted to determine predictors of academic performance and retention of freshmen in a college of agriculture. Freshmen enrolled in a college-wide learning and development course in the fall of 1997 (n=245) and 1998…

A four-round Delphi study of secondary agriculture teachers (17, 17, 22, and 21 responses) identified and rated student retention problems. Consensus was reached on these items: scheduling difficulties, lack of counselor support, image, increased graduation requirements, college entrance requirements, competition from other activities, block…

In a four-round Delphi study, 18 secondary agriculture teachers identified and rated student recruitment problems. Consensus was reached on these items: scheduling difficulties, finding time to recruit, student involvement in other activities, access to students, competition from other programs, lack of counselor support, increased graduation…

In a study of 442 freshmen in an agriculture college, participation in a learning community did not significantly influence achievement or retention for sophomore year. However, those involved in Future Farmers of America or 4-H had higher cumulative grade point averages and higher rates of retention than those not involved. (Contains 20…